UTEP Library Emergency Procedures

A.  ANY BOMB THREAT SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

B.  If a bomb threat is received by phone, immediately call or ask someone to call the University Police (5611) or 911 using a different phone.

C.  If possible, try to keep the caller on the line until the University Police arrive. Get the maximum information using the information below.

1. Ask these questions and document the caller’s exact answers, being as specific as possible:
   1. When is the bomb going to explode?
   2. Where is it located right now?
   3. What does it look like?
   4. What kind of bomb is it?
   5. What will cause it to explode?
   6. Did you place the bomb? If so, why?
   7. What is your name (or group’s name)?
   8. What is your address and phone number?
2. Record the following about the call:
   1. Time of call
   2. Exact words of caller
   3. The telephone number the person is calling from
   4. Background noise (music, autos, machinery, other voices, cellular phone, etc.)
3. If possible, determine the following about the caller:
   1. Sex (male or female)
   2. Ethnicity (White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, Filipino, or other)
   3. Approximate age (or adult, teen, or child)
   4. Mental condition
   5. Organization affiliations
   6. Speech (normal, accent, disguised, slow, rapid, slurred, sincere, excited, etc.)
4. Immediately after receiving the call, notify the University Police at 747-5611 from any campus phone and report the incident.
5. Refrain from using cell phones or portable radios within 1,000 feet of a suspected explosive device. The radio frequency emitted could be enough to detonate an explosive device should one be present.
6. Meet with responding officers to provide any additional information or answer any questions they may have regarding the phone call.
7. Staff, faculty and students should follow the instructions of emergency response personnel regarding necessary announcements or evacuations.
8. Any evacuation ordered due to a bomb threat is mandatory. All occupants of the area being evacuated shall immediately move towards a safe exit and remain outside the area until it is deemed safe to re-enter.  
9. In the event of an evacuation, if it is determined that a sweep for evidence or a device is necessary, staff or faculty employees may be asked to volunteer to conduct a sweep along with authorized police personnel in areas where they are most qualified to identify items which do not belong.
10. Under no circumstances should any suspicious items be touched, moved, or tampered with by anybody other than a specially trained emergency responder.

Note: The University Police will not make a decision on whether evacuation is necessary; this decision rests exclusively with Library staff, the supervisor, or Library Administration. The University Police will provide advice, information, and assist to the extent that their available personnel will permit.

Suspicious Package:

1. Immediately report the item to the University Police at 747-5611 or call 911.
2. Refrain from using cell phones or portable radios within 1,000 feet of a suspected device. The radio frequency emitted could be enough to detonate an explosive device should one be present.
3. Under no circumstances should the package be touched, moved, or tampered with by anybody other than a specially trained emergency responder.
4. Meet with responding officers to provide any additional information or answer any questions they may have regarding the phone call.
5. Staff, faculty and students should follow the instructions of emergency response personnel regarding necessary announcements or evacuations.
6. Any evacuation ordered due to a bomb threat is mandatory. All occupants of the area being evacuated shall immediately move towards a safe exit and remain outside the area until it is deemed safe to re-enter.

Email Bomb Threat:

 Immediately report the threat to the University Police at 747-5611 or call 911..

1.  Refrain from using cell phones or portable radios within 1,000 feet of a suspected device. The radio frequency emitted could be enough to detonate an explosive device should one be present.
2. Read bomb threat message to University Police Dispatch exactly as written.
3. Report the identity of the sender, the date and time the e-mail was received, who the message is intended for, who received copies, and the subject line from the e-mail message.
4. Do not respond to the sender.
5. Do not delete the bomb threat message.
6. Print a copy of the bomb threat message, if possible.
7. Meet with responding officers to provide any additional information or answer any questions they may have regarding the email.
8. Staff, faculty and students should follow the directions of emergency response personnel regarding necessary announcements or evacuations.
9. Any evacuation ordered due to a bomb threat is mandatory. All occupants of the area being evacuated shall immediately move towards a safe exit and remain outside the area until it is deemed safe to re-enter.  
10. In the event of an evacuation, it may be determined that a sweep for evidence or devices is necessary. Employees may be asked to volunteer in areas where they are most qualified to identify items which do not belong.
11. Under no circumstances should any suspicious items be touched, moved, or tampered with by anyone other than a specially trained emergency responder.

Bomb Threat Checklist

(Reviewed 10/26/2023)